BILL REQ. #:  S-2157.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/04/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to enhancing watchable wildlife activities; amending RCW 77.12.170 and 77.32.380; adding a new section to chapter 77.32 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that healthy wildlife populations significantly contribute to the economic vitality of Washington's rural areas through increased opportunities for watchable wildlife and related tourism. Travel related to watchable wildlife is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. Much of this travel occurs off-season, creating jobs and providing revenue to local businesses and governments during otherwise slow periods. The watchable wildlife industry is particularly important to Washington's rural economies.
     The legislature also finds that it is vital to support programs that enhance watchable wildlife activities and tourism, while also protecting the wildlife resources that attract the viewers. A revenue source must be created and directed to the watchable wildlife programs of the department of fish and wildlife to develop watchable wildlife opportunities in cooperation with other local, state, and federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 77.32 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department may sell watchable wildlife decals. Proceeds from the sale of the decal must be deposited into the state wildlife fund created in RCW 77.12.170 and must be dedicated to the support of the department's watchable wildlife activities. The department may also use proceeds from the sale of the decal for marketing the decal and for marketing watchable wildlife activities in the state.
     (2) The term "watchable wildlife activities" includes but is not limited to: Initiating partnerships with communities to jointly develop watchable wildlife projects, building infrastructure to serve wildlife viewers, assisting and training communities in conducting wildlife watching events, developing destination wildlife viewing corridors and trails, tours, maps, brochures, and travel aides, and offering grants to assist rural communities in identifying key wildlife attractions and ways to protect and promote them.
     (3) The commission must adopt by rule the cost of the watchable wildlife decal. A person may, at their discretion, contribute more than the cost as set by the commission by rule for the watchable wildlife decal in order to support watchable wildlife activities. A person who purchases a watchable wildlife decal must be issued one vehicle use permit free of charge.

Sec. 3   RCW 77.12.170 and 2001 c 253 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is established in the state treasury the state wildlife fund which consists of moneys received from:
     (a) Rentals or concessions of the department;
     (b) The sale of real or personal property held for department purposes;
     (c) The sale of licenses, permits, tags, and stamps required by chapter 77.32 RCW and RCW 77.65.490, except annual resident adult saltwater and all shellfish licenses, which shall be deposited into the state general fund;
     (d) Fees for informational materials published by the department;
     (e) Fees for personalized vehicle license plates as provided in chapter 46.16 RCW;
     (f) Articles or wildlife sold by the director under this title;
     (g) Compensation for damage to department property or wildlife losses or contributions, gifts, or grants received under RCW 77.12.320 ((or 77.32.380));
     (h) Excise tax on anadromous game fish collected under chapter 82.27 RCW;
     (i) The sale of personal property seized by the department for fish, shellfish, or wildlife violations; ((and))
     (j) The department's share of revenues from auctions and raffles authorized by the commission; and
     (k) The sale of watchable wildlife decals under section 2 of this act.
     (2) State and county officers receiving any moneys listed in subsection (1) of this section shall deposit them in the state treasury to be credited to the state wildlife fund.

Sec. 4   RCW 77.32.380 and 2001 c 243 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Persons who enter upon or use clearly identified department improved access facilities with a motor vehicle may be required to display a current annual fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit on the motor vehicle while within or while using an improved access facility. An "improved access facility" is a clearly identified area specifically created for motor vehicle parking, and includes any boat launch or boat ramp associated with the parking area, but does not include the department parking facilities at the Gorge Concert Center near George, Washington. One vehicle use permit shall be issued at no charge with an initial purchase of either an annual saltwater, freshwater, combination, small game hunting, big game hunting, or trapping license, or a watchable wildlife decal, issued by the department. The annual fee for a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit, if purchased separately, is ten dollars. A person to whom the department has issued a vehicle use permit or who has purchased a vehicle use permit separately may purchase additional vehicle use permits from the department at a cost of five dollars per vehicle use permit. Revenue derived from the sale of fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permits shall be used solely for the stewardship and maintenance of department improved access facilities.
     Youth groups may use department improved access facilities without possessing a vehicle use permit when accompanied by a vehicle use permit holder.
     ((The department may accept contributions into the state wildlife fund for the sound stewardship of fish and wildlife. Contributors shall be known as "conservation patrons" and, for contributions of twenty dollars or more, shall receive a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit free of charge.))
     (2) The vehicle use permit must be displayed from the interior of the motor vehicle so that it is clearly visible from outside of the motor vehicle before entering upon or using the motor vehicle on a department improved access facility. The vehicle use permit can be transferred between two vehicles and must contain space for the vehicle license numbers of each vehicle.
     (3) Failure to display the fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit if required by this section is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW, and department employees are authorized to issue a notice of infraction to the registered owner of any motor vehicle entering upon or using a department improved access facility without such a vehicle use permit. The penalty for failure to clearly display the vehicle use permit is sixty-six dollars. This penalty is reduced to thirty dollars if the registered owner provides proof to the court that he or she purchased a vehicle use permit within fifteen days after the issuance of the notice of violation.